Device for indicating slope of green on golf course

ABSTRACT

A device to be carried by a golfer for indicating during putting the slope of a golf course green incorporates a bubble type level supported on a wheeled structure secured to a handle. The level bubble is referenced to appropriate index marks so as to indicate the relative pitch or slope of the green during putting.

United States Patent Dixon Aug. 14, 1973 [54] DEVICE FOR INDICATINGSLOPE 0F 1,898,162 2/1933 Bair 33/370 G EEN 0 GOLF COURSE 3,306,6182/1967 Liljequist 33/334 2,976,046 3/ 1961 McCullough 33/334 Inventor:Harry F. Dixon, L-l Atlantic St.,

Durham, NC. 27707 Filed: May 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 143,546

US. Cl. 33/389, 33/334 Int. Cl G0lc 9/24 Field of Search 33/333, 334,l4l.5,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1908 Young 33/l4l.5

Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-Dennis A. DearingAttorney-B. B. Olive ABSTRACT A device to be carried by a golfer forindicating during putting the slope of a golf course green incorporatesa bubble type level supported on a wheeled structure secured to ahandle. The level bubble is referenced to appropriate index marks so asto indicate the relative pitch or slope of the green during putting.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmanwmm 3.751.819

INVENTOR. Harry F. Dixon ATTORNEY DEVICE FOR INDICATING SLOPE OF GREENON GOLF COURSE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThis invention generally relates to devices for determining the relativeslope or pitch of a surface. While adapted to other uses, the inventionis particularly concerned with a device for determining the relativeslope or pitch of a green on a golf course.

2. Description of the Prior Art One of the most difficult problesm forthe golfer during putting is to accurately estimate and allow for theslope or pitch of the green between the ball position and the cup. Asidefrom visual observation of slope, it has previously been proposed toincorporate a level as part of a golf club and a representative priorart patent of this type is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,919,491. This typeof measuring device however is awkward to use and does not lend itselfvery well to the variety of green surfaces encountered in golf.Therefore, it can accurately be said that the prior art has not provideda practical, lightweight device which can be carried in the golf bagalong with the clubs and which, when needed, can be employed quickly andin a simple manner to indicate the slope of the golf green.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatusincorporating the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of the device of FIG. I.

- FIG. 3 is a partial rear elevation view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevation view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial'side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a section view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in the drawings a pairof wheels 10, 11 are supported on an axle 12 which extends through alevel mounting block 13. End caps 15 retain wheels 10, 11 on axle l2 andspacer washers 16 space the respective wheels from the sides of levelmounting block 13. I

The upper surface of level mounting block 13 is itself curved and mountsa bubble type level 20 of corresponding curvature and having a casing 21and an appropriate fluid 22 in which is formed the levelling bubble 23.Case 21 is mounted in a mating curved groove 25 provided in the curvedupper and laterally extending surface of level support block 13. On eachside of level 20 the curved surfaces 26, 27 match with the generalcurvature of level 20; In order to indicate the relative position ofbubble 23 suitable index marks 28 (best shown in FIG. 2) are provided oneach side of the central zero" position of bubble 23 and on each of thecurved surfaces 26, 27. While other types of indicia v could be employedit has been found that the simple 1-2-3 designation indicated in anoutwardly increasing array gives sufficient accuracy to guide the golferduring putting. Protection from accidental lateral blows that mightotherwise strike the case 22, is provided by the upstanding sideprojections 30, 31. These surfaces also hear the designations Left andRight" for additional guidance.

A handle is suitable secured to level support block 13 and is ofsufficient length so that the device may be usd while the golfer is in anormal upright walking position. The central level" or zero position ofbubble 23 aligns with the axis of handle 35 and the axis of level 20 canbe seen to be generally perpendicular to the axis of handle 35.

While the primary purpose of the invention is that of providing a meansfor determining the slope of the green between a ball position and a cupposiion during putting, the invention may have a multi-purpose functionas best illustrated in FIG. 1. Here it will be noted that a conventionalScoop-n-Rake type ball retriever is mounted on the end of handle 35 andincludes the conventional spreadable fingers 41. With this embodimentthe golfer is of course able to carry a single device which performsboth the ball retrieving function as well as the golf levelmeasuring'function.

In use it will be understood that the golfer rolls the device of theinvention between the appropriate ball position and the cup position onthe green and along a direct line of travel. By observing the relativebubble position with reference to the indica marks shown in FIG. 2 thegolfer thus quickly determines the degree of slope or pitch which willbe acting on the ball. With a modest amount of experience the golferquickly learns how much left roll or right roll to allow for, say, aone, two" or three amount of slope. The golfer thereby gainssubstantially more satisfaction from his game and gains a new kind ofsatisfaction in interpreting the readings of the device of theinvention.

Various materials may be employed for the parts of the structure shownincluding wood, metal and plastics. It is desirable that the device beof low bulk and light in weight. It should also be noted that precisionaccuracy is not required for use in putting. However, it is recognizedthat the device of the invention may be made in a precision form and maybe used in other applications such as in construction levellingmachines, levelling appliances and the like where the surface inquestion has a definite but relatively small slope or pitch.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A portable device formeasuring the slope of a sloped surfacecomprising, in combination:

a. a level mount structure having a horizontally disposed elongatedcentral body portion providing a laterally extending upper surface androtatable wheel means mounted therein enabling said upper surface to bemoved over and in immediate proximity to said sloped surface;

b. an elongated tubular handle having one end centrally secured to andextending upwardly from said body portion and being of length sufficientto enable a user to hold, an opposite unsecured end thereof and movesaid level mount structure on said wheel means in immediate proximity tosaid sloped surface and while walking in an upright position over saidsloped surface;

. an elongated bubble type level secured to said upper sureface of saidlevel mount structure with the axis thereof oriented generallylengthwise of said body portion and perpendicular to the axis of saidhandle and having a bubble normally centered along a line coincidingwith the axis of said handle A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidbody portion provides vertical end surfaces, said wheel means comprisesa pair of wheels with one wheel being mounted adjacent each said endsurrace, said upper surface and said bubble level are of correspondingdownward curvature and said bubble level is recessed in said uppersurface.

* i t t i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONInventor(s) ry. F. Dixon It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 12, "problesm should be -problems- Col. 2, line 3,"suitable" should be-suitably- Col. 2, line 52, "therin" should be-thereon- Col. 2, line 64, "sureface" should be -surface- Col. 4, line"surrace should be -surface- Claim 2 is not numbered as Claim 2 Signedand sealed this 30th day of July 197b- (SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents ORM Podoso (lo-.69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTINGOFFICE I969 0-366-334,

1. A portable device for measuring the slope of a sloped surfacecomprising, in combination: a. a level mount structure having ahorizontally disposed elongated central body portion providing alaterally extending upper surface and rotatable wheel means mountedtherein enabling said upper surface to be moved over and in immediateproximity to said sloped surface; b. an elongated tubular handle havingone end centrally secured to and extending upwardly from said bodyportion and being of length sufficient to enable a user to hold anopposite unsecured end thereof and move said level mount structure onsaid wheel means in immediate proximity to said sloped surface and whilewalking in an upright position over said sloped surface; c. an elongatedbubble type level secured to said upper sureface of said level mountstructure with the axis thereof oriented generally lengthwise of saidbody portion and perpendicular to the axis of said handle and having abubble normally centered along a line coinciding with the axis of saidhandle when said level mount structure is supporting said bubble levelin a substantially level position; and d. indicia marks inscribed onsaid level mount upper surface proximate said bubble level enabling therelative position of said bubble when said mount structure is tilted tobe determined in reference to the slope of the portion of said slopedsurface immediately below said bubble level. eA device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said body portion provides vertical end surfaces, saidwheel means comprises a pair of wheels with one wheel being mountedadjacent each said end surrace, said upper surface and said bubble levelare of corresponding downward curvature and said bubble level isrecessed in said uppeR surface.